Apparatus and method for raising and adjusting concrete forms



NOV. N. A. O O I APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RAISING AND ADJUSTING CONCRETE FORMS Filed Jan, 18, 1951 s sheets-sheet 1 BYUZ 39 2 NOV 11, JQHNSQN 2,617,168 I APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RAISING AND ADJUSTING CONCRETE FORMS Filed Jan. 18, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Ln m M/l/E/VTQQ. N55 75/? 4. JOHNSON I I Bra/2x49? 1952 N. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RAISING AND ADJUSTING CONCRETE FORMS s sheets-sheet :5

Fn ed Jan- 18, 1951 ATTORNEYS.

W a N w J 4 m 5 N Patented Nov. 11, 1952 APPARATUS AND DIETHOD FOR RAISING AND ADJUSTING CONCRETE FORMS Nester A. Johnson, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to North Star Construction 00., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application January 18, 1951, Serial No. 206,682

7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to method and apparatus for enabling the vertical adjustment of a multiplicity of lifting jacks employed in connection with the lifting of forms and floors during the pouring of concrete into the forms, and has for its object to provide a construction continuously and automatically operative to show whether or not each of the several jacks in what may be a large number of operating jacks has at all times raised the parts connected with it to the same degree, together with means on the jacks enabling any jack whose top is out of line with all other jacks to be brought into said line.

In forming concrete walls, a set of forms for receiving the concrete will outline all walls which are to be poured open at the top of said forms for receiving the concrete. A continuous flooring is attached to all of the several forms and each of the jacks surrounds a jack rod buried in the concrete and is held by a frame extending upwardly above the flooring surface upon which is mounted a pneumatic jack. According to the size and complexity of the concrete structure being formed there will be more or less of these frames and jacks. Sometimes, where a very large and complicated structure is being poured, there will be a large number of jacks.

Regardless of the number of jacks they are connected in parallel with conducting means such as pipe and hose with a source of compressed air, which is valve-controlled for the entire series and individually valve-controlled'for each jack. This is such an arrangement and operation as is shown in co-pending application, Serial No. 195,106, of Patterson and Foss, filed November 12, 1950, and owned by the assignee of this present applica-, tion.

In such an arrangement the valve for controlling the compressed air may by suitable means be automatically operated, or may be hand op-: erated. The result of such operation will be in-' jection of air at uniform pressure simultaneously in all of the jacks to raise each jack and the connected form sections and flooring a predetermined small amount.

Theoretically the amount of lift will be identically the same with each jerk, but in practical operation it may happen that one Or more of the jacks may lift more or less than the average lift of all of the jacks, in which case the portion of the form and flooring held by that jack will be out of the top plane of lift by all of the jacks. Such a condition is serious and needs correction which must be promptly and cheaply effected, or some form sections may be out of lineand cause a damaged or unsatisfactory wall portion.

In the past, operatives have detected this condition by eye inspection, which has required a considerable number of operatives for large structures, and adjustment is made by causing one jack section to lift or lower that section until it is brought in line by eye inspection or by the use of straight edges long enough to extend over three jack sections.

I have discovered a simple and unexpectedly efficient way of remedying this-difficulty which consists in providing a tank of water secured to one of the frames for the forms and flooring being lifted at a height which extends above said frames. Connecting with said tank of water is a pipe which in turn is connected with a pipe extending continuously and through branches along, referably, the outside of the tops of the several forms. To this pipe is connected a series of vertical uprights which extend a substantial distance above the tops of the jack frames and are each provided with a glass, so when the water is brought to a predetermined level which is common to all of the glasses, the water level in the several glasses will indicate a horizontal plane parallel with the tops of the forms and the floor sections throughout the structure being built.

The water level in the tank and in the several glasses is brought to a fixed position indicated by marks on the glasses. If any of the jack sections are out of line, either up or down, this and the amount out of line will be shown on the glass for that jack section. Then by operating the valve provided to control the compressed air such jack section can readily be brought withthe top of,

the form in the same plane as all other such tops.

A principal object of my invention, therefore, in conjunction with a multiplicity of jacks and jack frames connected to concrete forms and a floor, is to provide a set of tubing extendin substantially along or to about the tops of all form sections and having an upstanding tube connected therewith with a glass united with the upper part of said tube, and having a tank of water connected to said first named extended tube, and adjusting the level of the tank by adding water to bring water in all the glass tubes in the tank to a common level, and thereafter causing any jack frame and parts carried thereby which is out of line to be brought into line by manipulation of hand valve or other means controlling supply of air to the jacks.

It is a further object of my invention to form marks on all of the glasses and to bring the water in the whole system so that the water level sur 5 face will coincide with all of said marks.

It is a further object of my invention to provide the air supply to each of the jacks with an.

individual valve whereby any jack can be operated separately to raise or lower the jack and the attached frame and other parts attached thereto to bring about alignment of all of these elements for any jack section.

The full objects and advantages of my inven-,-'

tion will appear more in detail in the annexed. specification, and the novel and advantageous features of my invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a concreteconstrum; tion showing the forms and flooring with con-- nected concrete forms adapted to receive poured concrete and showing the manner in which the continuous water pipe, either directly or through branches, will carry water to every upright glass water-holding member adjacent each of a multiplicity of jacks.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken. on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on enlarged scale of the manner of holding the glass and its parts.

Fig. 4 is a vertical elongated view of the whole glass secured in position, as in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 1 there is a small elevator construction having outer circular cells H1 and H and sets of smaller inner cells l2, l3 and I4 at one side and l5, l5 and ill at the other side of an internal cell l8. Form sections I9, 28, 2|, 22, 23 show generally for cell ii) and form sections 24, 25, 25, 27, 28 and 29 show generally for cell H the location of the tops of the forms, each of which is connected with a frame member 30 employed in connection with each pneumatic jack 3!.

The pneumatic jacks, each designated as 3!,

of which only a few have the reference numeral applied thereto, are all identical and are shown somewhat enlarged in Fig. 2, each surrounding a jack rod 32, which, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, extends a sufiicient distance into the concrete being poured, as indicated at 33 in Fig. 2.

A system of piping extends about the outsides of the main cells, as indicated in Fig. l, and has connection with each and all of the jacks 3 I. This piping is in general secured to the frame members 30 and moves upwardly with said frame members and is connected through a pipe section 34 with a compressed air tank 35 carried on the flooring of the main assembly, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Through an automatic valve member 3'3 located adjacent the tank 35 compressed air is delivered into the valve member 36 and thence through pipe 34 into the main pipe assembly from which it travels to all of the jacks employed on that job. A hand valuve indicated at 3? will control delivery of compressed air to the entire system whenever needed.

As further shown in Fig. 1, the air hose system and its various parts, other than connecting tube 34, is designated as to respective sections a, b, c and d, and cl, c2, 03 on the one hand, and d1, (Z2 and d3 on the other hand, which is designated to identify, as shown, the air piping system going to all of the jacks 3i and which is the same as that shown in the above entitled application of Patterson and Foss.

As shown in Fig. 2, the air line 38 that feeds the pneumatic chamber of jacks 3i is provided with hand valves 39, shown only in Fig. 2, but present for every one of the pneumatic chambers of jacks 31. It follows that each pneumatic valve can be independently controlled by hand as well as automatically for delivering compressed air simultaneously with all of the pneumatic jacks.

The several frames supporting the jacks are shown in detail in Fig. 2. Each of these frame members embodies side vertical members 48 and M with tie members 42 and 43 in duplicate fastened to the vertical members so as to straddle the jack rod 32. The floor 44 is secured to the verticals. as; shown and the form sections 45 are likewise so secured. The movement of the jacks upwardly is efiected through operation of dogs, hidicated as. and BI in Fig. 2, engageable with the jack rods 32 in the manner described more in detail in the above-referred-to application of Patterson and Foss.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a water-containing reservoir is supported by a bracket 4'! secured to frame member 30, said bracket abutting the side of frame member and the ends of frame members 42. The top 48 of reservoir-water-com tainer to is open and from its bottom extends a tube 49 which places the interior of the reservoir 56 in communication with a water feed line 58. This feed line 50 is shown in Fig. 1 as extending at substantially the floor level about all of the frames 38. which carry the multiplicity of separate and independent jacks 31.

To an upright 49 or 4! of each frame 30, preferably on the side thereof, is secured a plate or bar 51 extending vertically from the top of the floor along the inside of the upright A0 or M and between the pairs of tie members 42 and 43. A hose 52 is connected at 53 with the conveyor tube 58, and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, extends about the lower end of a glass tube 5Q which is otherwise open at its end, indicated at 55. A section of hose 5% surrounds the upper end of the glass tube 54.

The tube 52 and the glass tube 54 are efiectively secured to the upright M by looping a wire 57 about the upper end of tube 52 and a wire 58 about the upper end of tube section 56. The wrapping is also made about the upper end portion iii of the support bar 5|, as shown in Fig. 2, which portion comes above the end of uprights 49 or ll. The ends of the wire in each case are twisted tight, as indicated at 59 and 50. In that manner the glass tube is firmly held in position on each frame member 30, and collectively such gauge members will operate to show a uniform water level position in a single level or horizontal plane.

When the water pipe assembly has been made and all upright gauge tubes positioned at the jacks, the main water line extended along the top of the bottom course of concrete poured before the pneumatic jacks have been put into operation to raise the frames and the form sections and flooring connected therewith, water will be introduced into the reservoir 48.

From the reservoir 48 water will flow through tube 49 and main tube 50 to all of the hose sections 52 and glass tubes 54. A water level mark 52 is provided on the water container or tank 46. When water poured into the tank 46 reaches a static level at its top along the mark 52 the water will have simultaneously reached a position in the horizontal plane of the mark 62 in all of the glass gauge members 5 1. There will then be formed on said glass gauge members a mark indicated at 63 and all of said marks 63 will lie in a common horizontal plane.

When all the jack sections are elevated the same distance by every operation of the pneumaticjacks,

the water level-in the gauge glasses 54 will continue to coincidewith the "plane level marks 63 onthe gauge tubes 54'. If, however, for any rea-' son any jack section or sections shall fail to be raised the same distance as the other jack sections, the water line in the tube or tubes of such insufiiciently raised sections will come above the marking 63.

The operative can then very readily and quickly by manipulating the valve 39 for that section or sections bring the deficient jack section into the plane of the entire assembly, as indicated by the mark 63 on the gauge tubes 54. That would be done, of course, when the main valve for controlling fiow of compressed air to all jacks is not in operation.

Where the indication is that any jack or jacks has or havebeen elevated too far, leveling may be 7 effected-by closing the individual valve for such jack section and operating all the other valves until the out-of-line top of the column or columns of water on gauge indicator 54 is brought intothe common plane of all the other jack sections as indicated or shown by the coincidence of'said water tops with the mark 63.

The water in the system may be colored if desired to make the column top easier to detect, and from time to time, as evaporation takes place from the tank 46, water may be added to keep the level in the system in the horizontal plane of all of the markings. Also it is not necessary to restrict the system to the use of water, since any non-vaporizing liquid may be used where deemed desirable, although for all practical purposes Water will prove satisfactory.

is outlined in the foregoing specification, are substantial and very valuable. A principal ad-' vantage is in the great saving of labor cost, where, as in the prior practice, mere inspection of the floor sections and raising and lowering by means of measuring devices, straight edges and the like, has been followed, a considerable number of operatives have been required. With my invention one operative, who also can do other things, will be sufiicient even on quite large structures, which structures may be many times the area of the small country elevator construction outlined in Fig. 1 of the application.

A second great advantage comes from far,

section enable a precise adjustment to be effected.

A third important advantage resides in the fact that much smaller variations in level can be detected by my method and apparatus than is possible by the old practice. Further that such variations are detected immediately and prompt correction insures perfect poured walls.

I claim:

1. A method of adjusting vertically a multi plicity of lifting jacks in connection with the lifting of forms and floors during the pouring of concrete, which comprises effecting such lifting bymeans of compressed air having its power simultaneously applied at numerous points along said forms and connected floors, conveying liquid to all said lifting points and forming separated columns of liquid connected with a single source until the tops of the several columns come into a predetermined single horizontal liquid level plane, marking the position of all said column tops in said plane, inspecting the tops of said columns after lifting action, and where the top or tops of any column or columns does or do not coincide with said markings, individually applying compressed air power to the portion of the forms and floors where'such failure of coincidence occurs as indicated by the top or tops of such column or columns until that portion of the flooring has been lifted .to bring its column top or their column tops to coincide with said'mark ings.

2. A method of adjusting vertically one or more of a multiplicity of lifting jacks in connection with the lifting of forms and floors during the pouring of concrete, which comprises effecting such lifting by means of compressed air having its power simultaneously applied at numerous points along said forms and connected floors, confining a body of water in an extended line which everywhere comes close to said air power application points, forming separated columns of water at all said lifting points, adding water to said line and said columns at a predetermined single point until the tops of the several columns come into a single horizontal liquid level plane, marking the position of all said column tops in said plane, inspecting the tops of said columns after lifting action, and where the top or tops of any column or columns does or do not coincide with said markings, individually applying compresed air power to all portions of forms and flooring where said failure of coincidence occurs as indicated by tops of columns until that portion of the frame has been lifted to bring its column top or their column tops to coincide with said markings. l

3. In combination with a multiplicity of jack frames and of jacks supported thereby, said frames connected with concrete forms and flooring, and jacks operating to lift the frames and connected parts, a water tank, a system of piping having connection with said water tank and extending to points below each of said lifting jacks, a substantially vertical conduit extending from said system, a transparent tube at the end of said vertical conduit and extending to a point substantially above each jack, and markings on the tank and on each of the glass tubes all in a common horizontal plane, whereby lifting of any section or frame a greater or less distance than lifting of all other sections and frames can be detected, and by operation of the jacks can be corrected.

4. In combination with a multiplicity of Jack frames and of jacks supported thereby, said frames connected with concrete forms and flooring, and jacks operating to lift the frames and connected parts, apparatus for determining need for adjusting vertically said frames and connected floors and forms in connection with the pouring of concrete, which comprises a liquid container having transparent walls and positioned above the plane of the tops of the frames and of the jacks carried by said frames, a system of piping having connection with said container and extending to points below each of said lifting jacks, substantially vertical conduits extending from said system to points bounded by horizontal planes above said frames, a transparent tube at the end of each vertical conduit, said tubes all being between horizontal planes extending through the top and the bottom of the container, and markings on the tank and on each of the glass tubes all in a common horizontal plane, whereby lifting of any frame and parts connected therewith a, greater or less distance thanlifting of all other frames and parts can the detected and by. operation of the, jacksv individually. can be corrected.

5. In combination with a multiplicity of jack frames, each frame having an upright and spaced apart pairs of tie pieces, said frames connected with. concrete forms and flooring and jacks operated to lift the frames and connected parts, apparatus for. determining need for adjusting vertic'ally said frames and connected floors and forms in connection with the. pouring of concrete, comprising a liquid container positioned above the plane of the tops-of the frames. and of the jacks carried by said frames, 9, system of piping having connection with said container and extending to. points below each of said, lifting jacks, substantially vertical conduits extending from said system to points bounded byv horizontal planes above said frames, a transparent vertical tube atstheend of each vertical conduit, said tubes all being between horizontal planes extending through the top and the. bottom of the container, said'verticai conduits and transparent tubes each being secured to the inside of an upright forming part of they frame, and markings on the tank and on each of the glass tubes all in a common horizontal plane, whereby lifting of any frame and parts connected therewith a greater or less distance than lifting of all other frames and parts can be detected and by operation of the jacks individually can be corrected.

6. In combination with a multiplicity of jack frames, each frame having an upright and spaced apart pairs of tie pieces, said frames connected with concrete forms and flooring and jacks operated to lift the frames and connected parts, apparatus for determining need for adjusting vertically said frames and connected floors and forms in connection with the pouring of concrete, comprising a liquid container positioned above the plane of the tops of the frames and of the jacks carried by said frames, a system of piping having connection with said container and extending to points below each of said lifting jacks, substantially vertical conduits extending from said system to points bounded by horizontal 4::

planes above said frames, a transparent vertical tube at the end of each vertical conduit, said tubes all being between horizontal planes extend ing through the top and the bottom of; t e container, said vertical conduits and transparent tubes each being secured to the inside of. an upright forming. part of the frame, each of Said conduits, and, tubes being secured to the upright by wires looped about portions of the conduits and enclosing the tubes, said wires being drawn tight by twisting, and markings on the tank and on each of the glass tubes all in a common horizontal plane, whereby lifting of any frame and parts connected therewith a greater or less distance than lifting of all other frames and parts can be detected and by operation of the jacks individually can be corrected.

7. In combination with a multiplicity of interconnected building forms, an individual lifting jack operatively associated with each of said building forms, of a'system for indicating a common level of said building forms, including a liquid container supported by one of. said'forms, a main conduit communicating with said container and cu'dsendim. circui tously below each of said lifting jacks, an individual conduit supported by each frame and connected with said main conduit adjacent each lifting jack and extending vertically above the upper limits of the 'respective jack, the upper portion of each individual conduit being formed of substantially transparent material to show'thelevel of liquid in said conduit, and indicating means associated with said container and the transparent portion of each of said individual conduits all occurring in a single common horizontal plane for indicating the relative level of any of 'the building forms and for determining the need of adjusting any individual lifting jack.

' .NESTER A. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED s'rzrrns Pn'rnnrs Number Name Date 1,649,67i Egan Nov. 15 1927 2,217,115 Hermodsson Oct. 8, .1940 

